How to Choose Running Shoes

Soft uppers combine with protective cushioning on the men's Brooks Ghost Max 2 Suede road-running shoes. The GlideRoll Rockers assist with transitions for an easy ride.
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Imported.
View the Brooks Ghost Product LineView all Brooks Men's Road-Running ShoesBest Use | Walking Running |
---|---|
Running Shoe Support | Neutral |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Maximum Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 6 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 39 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 33 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | Mesh/suede |
Midsole | DNA LOFT v3 |
Outsole | RoadTack with HPR Heel rubber |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 6.2 oz. |
Gender | Men's |
7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. Men's | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
U.S. Women's | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | ||||||
UK | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
EU | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45 | 45.5 | 46 | 46.5 | 47.5 | 48.5 | 49.5 | 50.5 |
Sizes along top of chart are U.S. Men's sizes. Correlating U.S. Women's sizes and EU sizes provided for clarity.
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[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] As a physical therapist and CrossFit coach, I'm on my feet for up to 13 hours a day, and the Ghost Max SE has been a game-changer. These shoes provide incredible comfort and support, making long days much more manageable. The rocker sole is just as effective as advertised, promoting smooth transitions and reducing fatigue. On top of that, I've been getting tons of compliments from both gym members and patients who’ve noticed my fresh new kicks! Brooks Running gave me this free product to try, and I can confidently say it's one of the best shoes I've worn for all-day support and performance. Highly recommend!
These shoes are nice. I like the versatile look, you can dress them as athletic or athleisure. They have a roomy toe box but I would suggest sizing up if you are between sizes. I am normally a 13 and, based on reviews, I sized up to a 14 and I’m glad I did; I think the 13’s would be too tight. These offer enough room to slide my inserts and make them even more comfortable. The heel padding is very plush, it keeps your heel locked in place while providing some nice padding for longer walks. The shoes have some nice bounce to them. I am already planning to take them on my next vacation to Japan (plenty of walking planned).
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I’ve worn these for a couple of short and medium distance runs now. They provide extreme cushioning and are very comfortable. I’m flat footed and over pronate when I walk/run so I have to have a shoe with great arch support. These provide just that. I have also worn them for about 2 weeks as a casual shoe to work. So even after 8 hours of daily wear at work I don’t have any foot or knee pain which is amazing.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] First I wear these as work shoes in the hospital and second I do run in these as well. After a shift my feet don’t hurt. I run 20-30 miles a week and I feel like I’m gliding. They are responsive. I do wish I had another color combination though. This is good for long distance and for a beginner to intermediate runner. Enjoy the ride. Brooks Running gave me this free product to try.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Overall I absolutely love these Brooks Ghost Max. I had the previous model and was pleasantly surprised with them and wasn’t sure how the updated model would be. Of course Brooks never lets me down. The updated look makes me feel like I have a shoe I can wear for style and running. When I first tried them on I noticed the back of heel cup has a lot more cushion than the previous models. This isn’t an issue except that it pushed my foot towards the front of the shoe. I tend to have a wider foot but order my running shoes in a standard width, so this caused my toes to rub a bit more than normal. Also, since they added the fabric around the toe box, it doesn’t allow as much movement for my toes. However! When designing that fabric they put little triangle cutouts that happen to be right next to the tip of my big toe. This gives my toe some breathing room when taking a step. Brooks Running gave me this free product to try.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Ghost Max SE is a very comfortable casual shoe, but if you are running, get the regular Ghost Max. This shoe fits true to size if not a little bit short. The extra thick suede toe cap makes it stiff up front, which isn’t great for running. However, walking in this shoe is very comfortable Everything about it feels plush and secure, and I had no slipping or irritation. This is a neutral shoe, but feels very stable. The max cushion and 6mm drop ensure your feet will not hurt, even after a long day. The suede overlays and grey color tell me Brooks are going after the popular NB990, and they are succeeding. Wearing this shoe at work, I had several compliments and a few customers wanted to buy this model on the spot. Overall, I think Brooks did a good job with this. But again, if you are running, don’t get the SE as the suede is just too much. Get it for casual use and you won’t regret it. This shoe was provided at no charge by Brooks in exchange for a review. All thoughts are me own.
23 marathons, 2 full Ironman's, and countless 70.3's... I have run in every shoe known to runners. Mizuno's, Saucony's, Brooks, Asics, Hoka's... every model every brand. Here's what I would say about this shoes - you're not going to set a PR for fastest mile time BUT I doubt that's what Brooks had in mind when they made these. I would compare the Ghost Max's to the Hoka's Bondi lineup. They are super padded, bouncy, springy, and surprisingly really refreshing on the knees. When I got these shoes to test out, my go to runners were the Saucony endorphin pro 4's. I started out by wearing these shoes to work... where I stand on my feet in the OR for 10 hours at a time. WOW. I was very very pleasantly surprised. I have tried crocs, clogs, Hoka's, even New Balance's Fresh Foams... pretty much anything that could add some relief throughout a 10 hr day on my feet to my knees, ankles, and soles. 10/10 these took the cake. Next I decided I would start to wear them in a more active setting when I was walking my dog. Again, very pleasantly surprised by the spring and cushion of these shoes. Finally, I decided I would take them for a true test drive during a night run. Completely different experience from my Saucony's, but not a bad one. Despite the literature, the nenefit, and the buzz, I am a heel striker and at this point in my life, I am not going to change that. What I noticed was that these shoes almost seemed to help my running mechanics by softening my heel strike and propelling my feet and ankles through the transition. I would not describe these shoes as fast. But I would describe them as extremely comfortable and enjoyable for someone looking to stay in shape and preserve their joint health. These are perfect for wearing all day in a job where you are on your feet AND they are perfect for someone who wants to stay in shape, casually run or walk, and wants to enjoy their workout.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I am an ER Nurse and work 36+ hours a week, mostly on my feet during my shifts. It took me about an hour to get comfortable in these shoes as this was the thickest midsole I have ever worn and I normally wear a zero drop shoe with minimal cushion. Compared to my normal footwear the Brooks Ghost Max felt way more comfortable and left my legs and feet feeling less fatigued after work. This shoe is great for anyone who works a lot on their feet.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I love these shoes. They carry me from clinics to runs and back with comfort and tons of support. The cushion is fabulous for standing around all day on my feet, I am no longer feeling the wear on my hips and lower back like before these shoes. I also have really enjoyed my quick runs in these - although I tend to learn to a harder sole for running these happened to still be just firm enough for all the cushion!
I work from a standup desk and I also log several walking miles each workday traveling from one department to another, both indoors and out. These shoes leave my feet feeling great all day long, and well into the evening when the workday continues into overtime. I have worn Ghosts for several years but the Max is so much better at keeping my feet fresh all day. I will be back for more when I wear these out.